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An annually conducted, nationwide survey shows a
continuing marked decline in the use of illegal drugs by
high school seniors over the last three years.

Which of the following, if true, would provide most
support for concluding from the survey results
described above that the use of illegal drugs by
people below the age of 20 is declining?
(A) Changes in the level of drug use by high school
seniors are seldom matched by changes in the
level of drug use by other people below the
age of 20.
(B) In the past, high school seniors were consis-
tently the population group most likely to use
illegal drugs and most likely to use them
heavily.
(C) The percentage of high school seniors who use
illegal drugs is consistently very similar to the
percentage of all people below the age of 20
who use illegal drugs.
(D) The decline revealed by the surveys is the result
of drug education programs specifically
targeted at those below the age of 20.
(E) The number of those surveyed who admit to
having sold illegal drugs has declined even
faster than has the number who have used
drugs.

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22 Jun 2004, 22:55

singh_satya wrote:

An annually conducted, nationwide survey shows acontinuing marked decline in the use of illegal drugs byhigh school seniors over the last three years.

Which of the following, if true, would provide mostsupport for concluding from the survey resultsdescribed above that the use of illegal drugs by people below the age of 20 is declining?(A) Changes in the level of drug use by high schoolseniors are seldom matched by changes in thelevel of drug use by other people below theage of 20.(B) In the past, high school seniors were consis-tently the population group most likely to useillegal drugs and most likely to use themheavily.(C) The percentage of high school seniors who useillegal drugs is consistently very similar to thepercentage of all people below the age of 20who use illegal drugs.(D) The decline revealed by the surveys is the resultof drug education programs specificallytargeted at those below the age of 20.(E) The number of those surveyed who admit tohaving sold illegal drugs has declined evenfaster than has the number who have useddrugs.

Plz explain ur answer.

ThanksSatya

The stats indicate a marked decline in the use of illegal drugs by high school seniors. To be able to say that the same holds true for people under 20 we need to make sure that high school seniors comprise more than a half of the "under-20" group. Hence C.

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23 Jun 2004, 00:05

I think that D is the answer.

C looks a close match as the assumption in the argument is all high school seniors are below 20 years. However, the assumption is naturally justified barring few exceptions. Thus, D that states that there are specific programs to achive the result, provides strong support. The question is not assumption related, I believe.

ob wrote:

singh_satya wrote:

An annually conducted, nationwide survey shows acontinuing marked decline in the use of illegal drugs byhigh school seniors over the last three years.

Which of the following, if true, would provide mostsupport for concluding from the survey resultsdescribed above that the use of illegal drugs by people below the age of 20 is declining?(A) Changes in the level of drug use by high schoolseniors are seldom matched by changes in thelevel of drug use by other people below theage of 20.(B) In the past, high school seniors were consis-tently the population group most likely to useillegal drugs and most likely to use themheavily.(C) The percentage of high school seniors who useillegal drugs is consistently very similar to thepercentage of all people below the age of 20who use illegal drugs.(D) The decline revealed by the surveys is the resultof drug education programs specificallytargeted at those below the age of 20.(E) The number of those surveyed who admit tohaving sold illegal drugs has declined evenfaster than has the number who have useddrugs.

Plz explain ur answer.

ThanksSatya

The stats indicate a marked decline in the use of illegal drugs by high school seniors. To be able to say that the same holds true for people under 20 we need to make sure that high school seniors comprise more than a half of the "under-20" group. Hence C.

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23 Jun 2004, 02:04

(C) is best.

(D) is incorrect! Though it was aimed at people under age of 20 but those people might not have benefited from the program, hence the conclusion loses the ground.

While saying that percentage(who use illegal drug) of high school and people under age of 20 is same, implies that if there is a decline in usage of illegal drugs by high school student then there will natrually be a decilne in percentage of people under age of 20.

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23 Jun 2004, 08:00

Hi

I vote for C. When I look at all the choices. C directly supports the conclusion. The statemet say, the poll revealed a decline in drug abuse in high school seniors. And statement C says percentage decline is directly propotional to the people below age 20.

I do not see any confusion here.

The closest contender, which is D, says the survey was targetted people below age 20. (I sense a Trap in here). The conclusion is that there is a decline in drug abuse FOR ALL PEOPLE aged 20 and below. But statement D says, that the survey of the Senior students (only) who are below 20. Seniors below 20 cannot be related to ALL the people below 20.